First Alpha One Panel Pool with aquaBright Thermoplastic Spray Finish in Canada

The composite wall pool featured here is finished with ecoFinish.

aquaBright by ecoFinish cures instantly....filling the pool with a garden hose

This historically significant project had several different components. Construction was recently completed by Rintoul’s Pools and Hot Tubs and the revolutionary ecoFinish high performance pool finish was installed by Certified ecoFinish Installer Ontario Pool Coatings.

Pool Project Substrates:

monolithic poured concrete base

composite panels

aquaBright series ‘Blue Mist’ colour by ecoFinish

The composite panels used in this project are ‘Alpha One’ panels.

The Only Alpha pool wall system is similar to a steel walled pool with the exception that the concrete floor of the pool is 6-8" thick with wire mesh reinforcement that ties the floor, footing and the walls into one solid structure. The composite walls sit on steel I-Beam; this allows for the extra thickness in the floor.

The composite panels are fiber reinforced and can be used without a vinyl liner – they are perfect for ecoFinish thermoplastic spray finishes.

Perfect for ecoFinish. Perfect for Canada.

The Alpha One panels are easy to handle and a little lighter in weight than steel panels; they are pre-formed to the desired shape and required dimensions. Some extra time is spent caulking and bolting the seams of the panels together however this is necessary to ensure a flush face when we spray the surfaces with ecofinish thermoplastic spray finishes.

Phil Rintoul, owner of Rintoul’s Pools and Hot Tubs says ‘I would say it took 20% longer to assemble the wall system and install the floor with the two stage bottom. Cost to build is similar to a Fiberglass pool’.

Phil goes on to say…

‘We found a few key benefits to using the only alpha system:

There are adjustable braces to straighten the wall system while the concrete was still setting.

‘I found it easy to locate and drill out the required openings in the composite panels for the installation of the lights, jets and skimmers etcetera.

‘I like the process for building the stair case into the pool – it is not a fiberglass bolt-on option.

Alpha one panels arrive onsite already chemically etched or ‘profiled’, cleaned and ready to accept the specialized ecoFinish epoxy coating. It is only necessary to apply one coat of ecoFinish epoxy when using composite panel installations.

Once the epoxy becomes tacky, the ecoFinish thermoplastic spray system is engaged and the first pass using the system’s gun head now installs the ecoFinish powder product known as ‘aquaBright’ to the surface; this first coat is referred to as the ‘flock coat’. This flock coat layer is applied in a series of short passes of the gun head; installers are encouraged to make boxes or square patterns comprising a good base coat.

Canada Pool Coating Mike Cleary & Ontario Pool Coating team

As the ecoFinish system propels the powder through the gun head it melts the powder as it passes through the gun head. When the liquefied powder hits the surface, it melts out and creates a mechanical bond with the epoxy base coating and, surrounding melted base coat of powder. ecoFinish cures instantly.

Phil Rintoul gives the ecoFinish system a whirl

The next layer of aquaBright by ecoFinish is applied to the flock coat layer filling in any gaps or flat areas. A final layer, typically more heat with less powder, is then applied to finish out the pool and create a glossy finish.

ecoFinish is excellent to work with as it enables installers to achieve colour continuity throughout any pool constructed with various substrates.

First Alpha One Composite Panel Pool with ecoFinish in Canada...well done!

Mike Cleary is the President of Canada Pool Coating and the Canadian Distributor of ecoFinish high performance pool finishes and thermoplastic spray systems. ecoFinish designed aquaBright and polyFibro as an alternative solution that addresses typical issues associated with traditional pool coatings; ecoFinish finishes are hard wearing, soft to the touch and VOC free.

Canada Pool Coating ecoFinish pool finish

ecoFinish pool finishes for new build pools and for restoration of older swimming pools and repairs.

aquaBright by ecoFinish is a revolutionary ecofriendly (zero VOC) swimming pool finish alternative to traditional pool paint and pool liners for both commercial and residential applications on interior and exterior pools. This high performance thermoplastic pool finish is pneumatically applied by certified installers, cures instantly and has a 10 year warranty.

ecoFinish designed aquaBright as a permanent pool coating that bonds to and covers new or existing concrete, steel and aluminum swimming pool surfaces and, is also a proven solution for pool restorations with marbelite, plaster or paint finish issues plus spas or pools that have gel coat failures.

ecoFinish is making a huge splash ( 21 designer colours!) in the new installation swimming pool business and the pool repair industry on a global scale.

Gel Coat Failures? Now available...polyFibro by ecoFinish is specifically designed to restore fiberglass surfaces to like-new condition. Great finish for fiberglass stairs and steps too!